Here's the first CPU-Z validation of AMD's 12-core Magny Cours processor. Whatever details the existing version of CPU-Z does read, perfectly matches the specifications of the processor sketched out so far. Firstly, it's based on AMD's upcoming socket G3 package that marks Opteron's transition to high-level integration within a single package. With 1,974 pins, socket G3 is able to provide as many as six 16-bit HyperTransport 3.1 links, and four DDR3 memory channels. The package is one of AMD's first multi-chip modules, that houses two six-core dies (dubbed "nodes"), onto one package, and connects the two using a HyperTransport link.

Each node has 6 x 512 KB of L2 cache and 6 MB L3 cache shared between the six cores. Out of 6 MB, 1 MB of the cache is reserved for low-level system operations, namely the HT Assist (probe filter) that aims to lower memory subsystem latencies, reduces queuing delays due to lower HyperTransport traffic overhead, and minimizes probe traffic to increase system bandwidth. The CPU-Z reading of 10 MB total chip L3 cache is spot-on. Also seen on the validation page are details on the reference motherboard, called "AMD Dinar", that uses SR5690 (same chip as 890FX) + SB750 chipset. The CPU-Z validation can be found here.

So after spending a year blathering about how Intel's quads aren't "true" quad-core designs, AMD goes and pulls the same trick with Magny-Cours. GG AMD, keep innovating!

As for the benchmarks, AMD's ES chips always do well while their production parts consistently fail to live up to the same level, and I doubt it'll be much different here. Besides, wPrime is one benchmark.

So after spending a year blathering about how Intel's quads aren't "true" quad-core designs, AMD goes and pulls the same trick with Magny-Cours. GG AMD, keep innovating!

Click to expand...

Yeah, try making a 700 mm², 1808 million transistor die on 45 nm SOI. Back when Intel made its quad-core chips, something twice as big as Conroe was possible on 65 nm /45 nm HKMG. Intel's quad-core design ensured it just has to make one kind of dies (Conroe/Penryn) and then package them differently for dual-core/quad-core chips. With Magny Cours, it's the constraints of the manufacturing technology that's making 12-core a monolithic die impossible.

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So when are we going to see 3.0 gig per core and like a board that's supports 94 gig that's 8.0 per core and one last thing 10 pci xpress slots so we can put 10 GT300 video cards in it. Now that be a monster!

And you think by the time this is released, Intel will not have continued to improve their products? As it stands right now AMD is still behind Intel, so I find it hard to believe that, even if this is better than what Intel has available, Intel is finished...